Oil in water - head gasket?

I have a Citreon Echo, 1.1, L reg, 85,000 miles. I recently found some oil
in the water. My garage said this is the head gasket blown. The car is
still running fine, no sign of white stuff in the oil, no smoke, no

noises. Not had to top up the oil for months.... Is this definately the
head gasket as it seems odd there are no other signs. If it is how long
will a head gasket last? I drive roughly about 80miles per week. I would
appreciate anyones comments as the mot is due to expire (needing about
£150 worth of works) and I'm not sure whether to go ahead with the MOT
works and run the car til it stops, but obviously if the car isn't gonna
last more than a few months then its not worth chucking the money on it
for the MOT.
Thanks.

When you say that you "found some water in the oil" can you be a
little more precise as to what you mean and how you found it, for
example did you change the oil and find the first pint came out clear
or is there just drops of water on the dip stick, or even just water
on the inside of the oil filer cap?
The car is

Hmm, that could be a good or bad sign...
Is this definately the

How long is this bit of string I'm holding?!
I drive roughly about 80miles per week. I would

I think the economics of any repair is the cost vs. the cost of a
replacement vehicle coupled to the devil you know vs. the devil you
don't (the replacement), you could spend 1k ukp and find that vehicle
also blows a gasket or worse.

[...]
Same here; I'd rather spend a few hundred pounds keeping my present car on
the road than scrap it 'because the work will cost more than I could sell
it for' and then spend the money on a different car that is probably no
'better' but which has 'quirks' I'm not used to. (I just did - lots of
things seem to be wearing out at around the same time).

When you say that you "found some water in the oil" can you be a
little more precise as to what you mean and how you found it, for
example did you change the oil and find the first pint came out clear
or is there just drops of water on the dip stick, or even just water
on the inside of the oil filer cap?
I found oil in the water - I topped up the water and floating on top was
some oil.

Oh, sorry, it was getting late - my bad.
Same reply though, just not so urgent, as long as water doesn't get
into the oil (or either into the combustion chambers) - could last
years but could fail next week.

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